Ruto: Why Rigathi Gachagua had to go

On August 31, President Ruto wound up his four-day tour of Nyanza region with rallies in Kisumu County’s Kondele area where he declared that he would not tolerate leaders who want to divide Kenyans along ethnic lines.

And on Tuesday, more than two months later, the President made his way to the same place after delivering a keynote address at the fourth Africa Sub-Sovereign Network Conference and took the opportunity to attack Mr Gachagua. The former Deputy President was impeached for among others, propagating ethnicity and divisions among Kenyans.

“I stood here in Kondele and said that I will unite the whole country. Those who have been propagating hatred, ethnicity, division and discrimination have been shown the exit door. We shall continue sending home those who are promoting these vices,” said the Head of State.

Mr Gachagua was accused by the National Assembly, in a motion by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, of promoting ethnicity and discrimination, particularly over his “government is a shareholding company” remarks, which he used to mean those who did not vote for President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza government should be the last to receive State appointments and development projects.

Dr Ruto had avoided publicly talking about the ouster of his deputy, often sticking to calls to end tribalism, but the Kisumu statement was the closest he got to addressing it since November 1 when Prof Kithure Kindiki was sworn in as the Deputy President.

During the swearing-in at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, President Ruto attacked Mr Gachagua for what he said was abandoning his post and failing to help him promote government functions and programmes.

“I need your intellect to help me and to help members of our Cabinet to profile the things we are doing, to speak to the things that we are doing. I have almost become a lone voice in the Executive, especially in the presidency, speaking about our projects, speaking about our programmes, and elaborating on what we are doing. You are eloquent, my brother. You are intelligent, my brother, I am confident that you will do that which I have missed for the last two years,” President Ruto told Prof Kindiki.

Mr Gachagua has since launched a political wave, promising to hit hard at President Ruto, whom he said lied to the populous Mt Kenya region, which he (Mr Gachagua) fought for.

The ousted DP was also accused of failing to fully support the broad-based government, which saw the inclusion of ODM leader Raila Odinga’s lieutenants in Cabinet. These include ODM deputy party leaders Hassan Joho (Mining) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives), ODM National Chairman John Mbadi (National Treasury) and party Secretary of Political Affairs Opiyo Wandayi (Energy) as well as a member of the party’s elections board, Ms Beatrice Askul (East African Community). The five have since resigned from their party roles.

When President Ruto was in Kisumu with Mr Gachagua in August, he indicated that he played a crucial role in ensuring that Mr Odinga was appointed the Prime Minister following the 2007/08 post-election violence having worked with Mr Odinga as one of his deputies in ODM, adding that joining hands with him in government wasn’t going to be a challenge.

Yesterday, he stressed the fact that the two leaders had agreed to abolish politics of ethnicity, division and exclusion and instead unite and work for the people of Kenya.

Worship tribalism

“We have no business with those people who worship tribalism. With God’s grace, we shall remain a united country and no Kenyan will ever feel left out of this government,” said the President.

While drumming up support for the broad-based government, Dr Ruto said Mr Odinga was only returning a favour by helping him run the government.

“I was here in Kondele one day and told you that I once helped Agwambo (Raila). This time round he has returned the favour and helped me too. Is there a problem with that? Should we continue working together?” Dr Ruto said, as the crowd responded in the affirmative.

As he was delivering his address, residents of Kisumu who gave him a rousing welcome, asked him to go for a second term, but he chided them saying he wanted to focus on delivering on his promises in the remaining years of his first term before seeking re-election.

The Head of State vowed to continue working with leaders and people across the country, saying that was the only way to realise development without a section of the country feeling left out.

He stated that he would continue to unite the country under a broad-based government to build a strong nation.

The President also reiterated his support for the Azimio leader even as he seeks to become the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

“I promised that I will hold his (Raila) hand, pray and support his bid. As we speak, he is out of the country and has been campaigning in Ivory Coast, Senegal and today he is in Nigeria seeking to be the chairman of the AUC. Let us continue praying for him,” said Dr Ruto.

He was with leaders from the region, including Governors Anyang Nyong’o (Kisumu), James Orengo (Siaya), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay) and MPs Dr Joshua Oron (Kisumu Central), James K’oyoo (Muhoroni), Samuel Atandi (Alego Usonga), Felix Jalang’o (Langata) and Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda.

The leaders from the Nyanza region expressed their gratitude for the support Dr Ruto was giving Mr Odinga.

During the conference, held by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Dr Ruto stated that the process of constructing 10 landing sites in Lake Victoria will commence in January 2025.

He expressed confidence that the Ksh300 million project will bridge the demand-supply gap and reduce over-reliance on imports.

“It is a big shame for us to import fish from Asia in this 21st century, 60 years after independence,” he said.

The landing sites will cover the five counties surrounding Lake Victoria, including Busia, Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay and Migori.

The sites will be in Ogal (Kisumu), Asat (Kisumu), Nyandhiwa (Homa Bay), Nyakula (Homa Bay), Mainuga (Homa Bay), Got Kochola (Migori), Sori (Migori), Gumbe (Busia) as well as Wichlum and Asembo in Siaya county.

President Ruto revealed that the project bids will be out in January next year ahead of the ground-breaking.

Ultra-modern facilities

He stated that the sites will be equipped with ultra-modern facilities to support fisher folk and other players in the fish value chain.

“Unlike the traditional way of fishing where people catch and sell immediately, the sites will act as aggregation centres and will have enough cold storage facilities to store the fish as they look for markets,” he said.

The Head of State also said that the construction of Kabonyo Kanyagwal Fisheries and Aquaculture Research Centre will kick off in January.

“The Kabonyo Kanyagwal fish facility will provide seven million fingerlings every year for supply locally as well as the entire East African region,” he said.

On the other hand, he stated that sugar cane farmers have realised a bumper harvest such that for the first time, the country is not going to import from other countries.

“This is the route we want to take where we produce enough food to make Kenya food secure,” said Dr Ruto.

While addressing the locals at Kondele, the President said the government will bring back the ‘Kazi Mtaani’ initiative in Kisumu in January next year following a request by the Dr Oron.

Dr Ruto assured Governor Nyong’o that he will ensure that projects on affordable housing, sugar industry and fisheries in the county are completed on time.

He also drummed up support for the Social Health Insurance Fund, saying the universal cover will ensure that the government pays for those who cannot afford health care services in hospitals.